Located in the southern Sacramento Valley, Jepson Prairie Reserve is an island of remnant natural prairie in a wide alluvial floodplain used primarily for agriculture. The reserve protects one of the best few remaining vernal-pool habitats, which are found only in the western United States and few other places in the world, as well as precious remnants of native bunchgrass prairie that once covered one-fourth of California.
As Olcott Lake and other large vernal pools evaporate each spring, millions of native wildflowers bloom around them, forming concentric rings of yellow, white, and blue. Many plant and animal species found on site are endemic to vernal-pool habitats, including three listed shrimp species. The site itself provides the only known home for the federally threatened delta green ground beetle and federally and state-endangered Solano grass. Altogether, over 400 species and 64 families of plants, including 15 rare and endangered plants, are found on site, notably dwarf downingia, federal proposed-threatened and state-endangered Colusa grass, and federal-candidates delta tule pea and fragrant fritillary.
Two sloughs flow across corners of the site, providing year-round habitat for a variety of wildlife, including beaver, otter, waterfowl, and several threatened fish species.
Reserve lands are owned by the Solano Land Trust (SLT) and protected by the trust and The Nature Conservancy (TNC); UC assists in the management of this site. The reserve is named in memory of pioneering botanist and Solano County native Willis Linn Jepson.
Selected Research
- Amphibian decline in California.
- Nesting biology of bees.
- Systematics of the genus Downingia.
- Spatial structure and plant-pollinator interactions.
- Effects of controlled burning of native bunchgrasses.
Docent Program
Public, guided tours of Jepson Prairie Preserve are held every Saturday and Sunday from mid-March through mid-May. Tours begin at 10:00 am and last approximately two hours. Knowledgeable docents share information about the vernal pool ecosystem, including the beautiful flowers and the fascinating aquatic vertebrates that live in the pools. See the Solano Land Trust Calendar for the current schedule of tours. Special tours can be arranged by contacting JepsonPrairieDocents@solanolandtrust.org.